Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar :: Official website

His Filmography

Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, a versatile man of outstanding achievements, his finest achievements are in the domain of filmmaking. His multi tasking capabilities drew him to experiment in the medium of films during the eighties when he was a professor. His earlier forays into the film scene were in the area of writing screenplay, dialogues and lyrics. In fact those first attempts also brought him laurels by winning awards both at the national and regional levels. A self taught man in the art of filmmaking, he gradually moved on to direction. His works include:

Kadina Benki
(1986) Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics.
National Award for best regional film in Kannada and State Film Award

Sankranthi
(1988) Story, Lyrics
State Film Award and Berkeley Tarangini Award for the story

Prathama Usha Kirana
(1989) Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics
State Film Award and Filmfare Award

Udhbhava
(1990) Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics
State Film Award and Berkeley Tarangini Award for dialogue.

Undu Hoda Kondu Hoda
(1991) Direction, Story, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics
State Film Award for the story.

Baa Nalle Madhuchadrake
(1993) Direction, Story, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics

Kotreshi Kanasu [Dreams of Kotreshi]
(1994) Direction, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics
A film set in the backdrop of the Indian caste system, it explores the dreams and desires of an innocent boy of a lower caste, caught in the web of a discriminatory society. The film became a forum for discussion for its focus on the problems created by caste discrimination. Kotreshi Kanasu went on to win the first National Award for Nagathihalli Chandrashekar.

Urvashi
(1995) Screen-play, Lyrics
The movie bagged Karnataka State Award in the year 1995.

America! America !!
(1996) Direction, Story, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics
This award winning film placed Chandrashekar clearly on the road to stardom. Dealing with the changing facets of interpersonal relationships in the era of globalization, it handled the issue of cultural identities in cross cultural spaces. The film compared and contrasted different lifestyles with a sense of equanimity without hierarchical hang ups. America! America!! became a popular film among the Kannada speaking Indian diaspora across the globe. The film won several awards including a second National Award for Chandrashekar.

Hoomale [Showers of Flowers]
(1998) Direction, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics.
A sentimental drama played out in a remote border state of India which has terrorism forming its backdrop. It has themes such as love, violence and loneliness as its focus. Hoomale strikes a contrast between peace and violence, family values and unitary life, and state power and terror in a familiar narrative style. With this film, Chnadrashekar went on to win his third National Award.

Nanna Preethiya Hudugi [The Girl I Love]
(2001) Direction, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics
A phenomenal success, the film deals with teenage love flowering in an alien culture and the traditional Indian response to it. The film shot extensively in the United States of America, showed Detroit as a metaphor for the automated world in contrast to the mechanical but still a community driven world of a developing nation like India. Nanna Preethiya Hudugi received the Filmfare Award, India’s most popular film award.

Super Star
(2002) Direction Film Released.

Paris pranaya [A Parisian Affair]
(2003) Direction Film Released.
This was another film which was well received by audiences. This film like his earlier films, America! America!! and Nanna Preethiya Hudugi, is set in spaces outside of India but explores the Indian cultural ethos in the changing global scenario. Paris Pranaya dealing with the conflict of three generations located in India and Paris, strikes through musical notes the diversity of eastern and western cultures but redeems the relationships through universal values.

· Amrithadhare [Elixir]
(2005) Direction, Story, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics.
This previous film of Chandrashekar’s is based on the eternal theme of love and tragedy. It is a study of the irony of life in the face of imminent death, and the recognition of life as a celebration, however short it may be. Amitabh Bachchan, hugely idolized by Indians across the world and popularly referred to as the ‘star of the millennium’, acted for the first time in a south Indian language film. Amrithadhare simultaneously released in the United States of America, Singapore and Australia broke all previous records of the Kannada box office collection. The film went on to win numerous awards in various categories.
For more information visit amrithadhare.com

Mathad Mathadu Mallige [Speak, O Speak Jasmine!]
Chandrashekar’s latest venture is a film on globalization and its impact on marginalized professions and is ready to hit the screen in mid 2007. This film is a reflection of events happening currently across rural India and highlights the problems faced by farmers. Chandrashekar’s environmental concerns find an expression in this film.
For more information visit mathadmathadumallige.com

Olave Jeevana Lekkachara
(2009) Direction, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics.
This film is for the mind and soul
Balachandra is a poor student who takes the words of his lecturer (played by Rangayana Raghu) for gospel truth. The lecturer is a 'revolutionary' who survives by his talk alone. Balachandra goes to the extent of cheating the girl he loves in the belief that revolution demands the poor cheat the rich. It is not long before he begins to live the life of a psuedo revolutionary himself. Realization of his follies takes us to the climax where Balachandra goes back to the girl with an apology and promise to live together. But in the four years he has been away, things have changed far too much to be undone.

Opinions of the "PRESS"
Director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar has brilliantly handled the subject. This film is laced with wit, humour and sarcasm. A family entertainer combined with sentiment and a message for all. - TIMES OF INDIA (with 4 Star grading)

Srinagar Kitty and Radhika Pandit are impressive in their roles. The film has several instances that will tickle your funny bone. And the climax provides the film with a refreshing angle. A thumbs up for this one! - DNA (with 68% grading)

It is not often that you get to see a new Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar film, being one of the few film makers with a sense of purpose other than box office. His films are eagerly awaited. And he does not disappoint. This for the mind and soul. - BANGALORE MIRROR

Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar's films are known to be for the family and an intellectual audience. Rangayana Raghu steals the show. The director has exposed the true face of opportunists in the society. It is worth a watch, but mind you, not all dialogues in the film are to be tried at home! - INDIAN EXPRESS

'Olave Jeevana Lekkachaara' ultimately becomes a cultivated taste. Nagathihalli succeeds in putting his ideas across quite well. - DECCAN HERALD

Nooru Janmaku
Nagathihalli Chandrashekar's 12th directorial venture
The title is lifted from a song his earlier super hit film "America!America!!". As is his wont, this film too introduces new faces to the Kannada Film Industry. Santosh is being introduced as a hero in this film. The film also stars Aadarsh Balakrishna (Iqbal fame).

For more information visit Nooru Janmaku